Electric switch



May 22, I923. 1,455,960 A. E. MAAGE ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Filed Nov. 24 9 lakyi OECn ALFRED E. MAAGE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGKOB TO THE CUTLER-HEB,

00., F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed November 24, 1919. 1 Serial No. 340,270.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED E. MAAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee in the county of Milwaukee and 5 State of useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description reference be ng had to the accompanying rowing, forming a part of this specification. v

This invention relates to electric switches.

More particularly this invention relates to electric switches comprising relatively movable operating and operated members sub- 16 jected to the action of an energy storing spring which serves to'hold' the latter during a given relative movement of the former and to move the latter with a snap ac- 1 tion upon continued movement of the'ior:

20 mar, as for example, a switch comprising concentrically pivoted members connected by a helical spring to be shifted across the common pivot point thereof by movement of one.

Switches of the aforesaid type while possessing numerous advantages are open tothe objection that the spring connected members at a certain instant during each operation occupy relative positions rendering'the s ring inefective to bias the same relatively with the result that if said members happen'to stick in such a relation the snap action of the switch may be defeated.

The present invention has among its objects to overcome such disadvantages of switches of the aforesaid type and to provide a switch of such ty e including means to positively prevent de eat of its snap action from such "a'cause.

Another object is to provide means for the aforesaid purpose which will tend to accentuate the snap action of such switches.

inafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section thereof; 1

Fig; 2 is a front view, also partly in section, of the same; while,

Fig. 3' is a rear view thereof.

" Referring to the drawing, the same illustrates a substantially cylindrical base 1 composed of suitable insulating materialhaving at its respective ends recesses 2 and 3 sepa- Vliisconsin, have invented new and rated by a central web or partition 4. Said partition is provided with an axially located bore in which is mounted a bearing 5 carrying an elongated and relatively rotatable sleeve 6, said sleeve in turn carrying a rotatable spindle 7. A contacting member 8 is riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to one end of spindle 7 and adapted to oscillate therewith, being insulated therefrom by suitable washers 9. Said contactor is adapted in one position to engage and bridge. suitable fixed contacts 10 and 11 located within the recess 2 and provided with conductor terminals. The switch operating mechanism is associated with the opposite.

end of the spindle 7 and located within the recess 3.

Said operating mechanism comprises an arm 12 rigidly secured to the spindle 7, an operating member 13 mounted upon or formed integral with the sleeve 6 and a helical tension spring 14 terminally secured to the respective outer ends of said arm and said operating member. Suitably located stops are formed upon the sides of the recess 3, or otherwise provided, for arresting movement of said arm and said operating member in either direction in proper relations to one another and to thefixed contacts.

The spring 14 serves, to bias said arm and said operating member to move toward each other for all positions ofsaid elements ex- ,cept that in which the same are in joint alignment. Also upon actuation of the op- 9 crating member from either of its extreme positions said spring serves to maintain the arm 12 in its corresponding extreme position until said spring has been shifted beyond l its position of alignment with said arm,

.the stored-energy of said spring thereafter serving to throw said arm to its opposite ex- Other ob ects and advantages will here-- treme position with a snap action.

A substantially conical restraining device 15, which in practice may be formed integral and coaxial with the spindle 7, is arranged to extend within and partially across the path of movement of said spring.

During operation of the switch ineither direction movement of the spring is temporarily retarded by said restraining device whereby the operating member 13 and said spring do not pass simultaneously through the position of alignment with the arm 12. And it is thereby rendered impossible to defeat'the snap action by arresting movement of the o crating. member in a position wherein the oroes acting upon said arm 12 are balanced.

Also the action of the restraining device forces the central ortion of the spring axially of the spind e 7 whereby the tension and stored energy of said spring are mate rially augmented. Such energy moreover is released with great abruptncss as the spring passes the apex of said restraining device. Further since the operating member moves in advance of the spring, the former at the instant of such release has necessarily moved out of alignment with the arm and into a position relative thereto affording an increased mechanical advantage to the action of such force.

Considering the structure of the switch operating mechanism more in detail, the

v spindle 7 is provided within the recess 3 with a pair of parallel and symmetrically located transverse notches '16 whereas the arm 12 is provided with a longitudinal open ended slot 17 for permitting said arm to be moved radially into assembly with said spindle, the sides of said-slot being adapted to fit within said notches whereby said elements when as-' sembled are adapted to move in unison. The free end of said arm is )rovided with an up standing lug 18 adapte to receive and hold the end of the spring 14 the tension of the latter serving to maintain said arm and spindle in assembled relation.

The operating member 13 is substantially U-shaped and provided at one end with an opening adapted to fit snugly about the end of the sleeve 6 being held against axial movement relative thereto by means of a shoulder 19 and a bead. 20 of the latter. The central portion of said operating member is provided with an instruck lug 21 adapted to receive. the opposite end of the spring 14. The opposite terminal portion of said arm is provided with an outward extension 22 arranged substantially coaxial with the spindle 7, said lug affording anchorage for a turn key 23 or other suitable actuating device.

In practice the switch o.erating mechanism is preferably enclose by a cap 52% adapted to fit snugly over, the adjacent end of the base 1 being conveniently applied prior to attachment of the actuating device 23 with the operating member 13.

- What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with relatively movable members, one of the same being oscillatable, of a springassociatcd with the latter member to oscillate the same with a snap action upon reverse operations of theother of said members and to hold said oscillatable member against movement during a given initial movement of the other member in either direction and means acting upon said eaaeeo spring to zprevent the same from being rendered inactive through relative positionim;

tion neutralizing the action of said spring,

and means coacting with certain ofsaid ele ments to insure against such relative posh tioning of said elements.

3. The combination with relatively movable members. one of the same being oscillatablc about a fixed axis, of a spring associated with said latter member to oscillate the same with a snap action upon reverm operations of the other of said members and to hold said 'oscillatable member against movement during a given initial movement of the other member in eitherdirection, and means acting upon said spring to prevent the same from being rendered inactive through relative positioning of said members.

4-. The combination with relatively mo'vable members, one of which is pivotally mounted, of a helical spring connected to said members to be shifted across the axis of said pivoted member by relative movement of the other of said members and a device acting on said spring to distort its axis while moving across the axis of said pivoted member to thereby maintain said spring active at all times for biasing said members relatively. .i

The combination with a pair of members adapted to oscillate with reference to a common axis, of a spring to be moved by one of said members across said axis for effecting snap movement of the other of said members, and means providin against ositioning of said spring in co-p anar relation to said axis.

6. The combination with a contacting member and an operating member adapted to oscillate with reference to a common axis, of a spring, operable by the latter member to effect snap movement of the former, said operating member and said spring being movable jointly and tending when so moved to pass simultaneously through a position oi radial alignment with said contacting nicmbm', and means providing against simultaneous radial alignment of said operatin; member and said spring.

T. The mnubinatiou with a contacting member and an operating member adapted to oscillate with reference to a common axis, of a sprinp operable by the latter member to cilect snap movement of the former, said operating member and said spring being movable jointly and tending when so moved to pass simultaneously through a position messed member and means influencing movement of said spring to retard the same and to increase the tensio thereof during passage of said operating member through such position of alignment 8. The combination with a pairofmemhers adapted to oscillate with reference to a common axis, of a spring operatively' associated with said me'mbers', one of said members bein movable to effect radial alignment of t e terminal portions of said spring with respect tosa'id axis, .said spring being thereafter adapted to effect snap movement of the other of said members and means for effecting deflection of the cen tral portion of said spring during such alignment of the terminal portions thereof for accentuating the subsequently effected snap action. 4

9'. The combination with a. pair of memment'with respect to said. axis for tensioning said spring, the latter being adapted thereafter to effect snap movement of the other ofsaid members, and means for de- 30 laying initiation of said snap action pending further tensioning of said sprin and pending arrangement of the termina pore tions thereof with respect to said axls in a relation providing a strong mechanical, ad- 35 vantage.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

i FRED E; MAAGE. 

